Nursery Manager

Willing Care Ltd; Epping Forest; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance

Company events

Long service rewards

Enhanced maternity leave

Ongoing training and leadership dev.

Support from established organisation

Job summary

Willing Care Ltd is seeking an experienced Nursery Manager to lead a brand-new nursery opening this autumn in the United Kingdom. You will establish the team, culture and high standards of practice, with strong safeguarding embedded from day one.

The role requires strategic oversight of budgets, recruitment and occupancy, while maintaining compliance with Ofsted and EYFS requirements. You will work closely with senior leadership to ensure the nursery reflects the company ethos and long-term

Qualifications

• Experience leading an early years setting, with a track record of launching new nurseries.
• Strong safeguarding practice and compliance with Ofsted/EYFS standards.
• Commercial awareness and ability to drive occupancy and performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the opening of a brand-new nursery and establish strong operational foundations.
• Recruit, develop and inspire an early years team.
• Create a positive, high-performing culture with excellent practice.
• Embed safeguarding across the setting and maintain it consistently.
• Drive high standards of teaching, learning and care.
• Oversee budgets, staffing, occupancy and overall performance.
• Build relationships with families and the local community.
• Ensure compliance with Ofsted, EYFS and regulatory requirements.
• Lead continuous quality improvement and prepare for Ofsted inspections.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to reflect the company ethos and vision.

Skills

Leadership

Safeguarding

Budget management

Team recruitment

Regulatory compliance

Community building

Ofsted readiness

Job description

• Take the lead in preparing the nursery for its opening and establishing strong operational foundations.
• Recruit, develop and inspire a passionate early years team.
• Create a positive, high-performing culture where excellent practice is recognised and encouraged.
• Ensure safeguarding is embedded throughout the nursery and consistently maintained.
• Drive high standards of teaching, learning and care across the setting.
• Oversee budgets, staffing, occupancy and overall nursery performance.
• Build strong relationships with families and establish the nursery within the local community.
• Ensure full compliance with Ofsted, EYFS and wider regulatory requirements.
• Lead continuous quality improvement and prepare the setting for future Ofsted inspections.
• Work closely with senior leadership to ensure the nursery reflects the company's ethos and long-term vision.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements, including an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and verification of the right to work in the UK, in line with safeguarding responsibilities.

Up to £50,000 per year | All Year Round Opening a new nursery is a rare opportunity to do more than manage an established setting. You'll have the chance to build the culture, develop your team and shape the standards from day one. Opening this autumn, this brand-new nursery is looking for an experienced and ambitious Nursery Manager to lead the setting through its launch and beyond. From recruiting and developing a high-performing team to establishing excellent safeguarding practice, growing occupancy and creating an environment that reflects the company's ethos, you'll be instrumental in making the nursery a success. We're looking for someone who understands what excellent early years provision looks like in a large, busy nursery and has the leadership skills to bring it to life. You'll need to be commercially aware, confident with Ofsted and passionate about creating a nursery where children, families and practitioners genuinely thrive.

What You'll Receive

• Up to £50,000 per year
• Opportunity to lead a brand-new nursery from opening
• Ongoing training and leadership development
• Life assurance
• Company events
• Long service rewards
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Opportunity to build and develop your own nursery team
• Support from an established wider organisation